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Yankees, famous friends, honor Derek Jeter with his own special day

New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter was honored for his exemplary career on Sunday.

By Charles Glover, Jr.

Sunday, September 7 was a busy sports day with the majority of the NFL regular season opening games, the women’s U.S. Open, and the WNBA Finals beginning. It was also Derek Jeter Day in the Bronx, with the New York Yankees hosting the Kansas City Royals in the closing weeks of the MLB regular season.

Jeter was surrounded by several big names in sports as he was honored on Sunday

Jeter’s star-studded ceremony featured MLB Hall of Famers Cal Ripken, Jr., Dave Winfield, and Joe Torre. Some of Jeter’s former Yankees teammates that were present were Jorge Posada, Hideki Matsui, David Cone, Bernie Williams, and Mariano Rivera. Torre shared, “Somebody asked me to use one word to describe him, I said trustworthy.”

Jeter has been a fan favorite since he was called up to join the team in 1995.

Jeter’s current teammates surprised him by not joining him on the field at the beginning of the game, allowing the Yankees Captain to have one last chance to be cheered by the fans before the game began. Jeter said of the gesture by his teammates, “My first thought was that I had run out there too early. I appreciate my teammates doing that for me.”

Michael Jordan applauded Jeter on a wonderful career.

Perhaps the biggest star to attend the ceremony celebrating the captain was NBA Hall of Famer and Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan, who has been friends with the shortstop since they met in 1994. Jeter is also signed to Jordan’s brand. In his remarks about Jeter, Jordan said:

“Winning thrives on great leadership and he’s a great leader. Being in the city of New York where one little hiccup can basically fry your personality or your persona and this kid has done everything the right way.”

Among the gifts presented to Jeter during the ceremony were:
– A proclamation from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio that Sunday Sept. 7, 2014 is Derek Jeter Day
– A Mettler G5 clinical massage therapy machine
– A framed and matted piece with patches from the 14 appearances Derek Jeter made to the All-Star game
– A 10-day trip to Tuscany
– A check for $222,222.22 for his Turn 2 Foundation
– A custom-made Waterford Crystal etched with Jeter’s final season logo

Yankees fans hope the team can overcome a rough season to send their captain off with a championship but that seems unlikely. After losing yesterday’s game to the Royals (2 – 0), the Yankees are now 9 1/2 games behind the Baltimore Orioles in the division and 4 1/2 games out of the Wildcard to make the playoffs. No matter how the season ends, Yankees fans will always celebrate their captain, Derek Jeter.-OnPointPress.net-